Mark Jean's passion for filmmaking began as an undergraduate at Western Michigan University. Packing junk furniture and a Bolex into a U-Haul, Mark traveled cross-country to California where he attended San Diego State University, working as a teacher’s assistant for the acclaimed screenwriting guru, Robert Mckee, and supervising the film department’s directing workshops for two years. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications & Film, then studied at The American Film Institute on full scholarship, receiving a Masters Degree in Directing.

Jean has directed independent features, multiple MOW’s, television pilots, and episodic dramas and comedies. He has also written and co-written numerous screenplays including the historical drama BEAST OF BATAAN for producers Mel Brooks and Jonathan Sanger.

His eclectic accomplishments include the George Foster Peabody Award for writing and directing a series of interstitials for Fox Children’s Network; WHO OWNS THE SUN, a Disney short, winner of numerous Film Festival awards including 1st Place New York Film Festival; the Gold Award Houston International Film Festival; the Gold Award Chicago International Film Festival; and his novel, PUDDLEJUMPERS, published by Hyperion Books in 2008 and awarded Voya’s Top Shelf Fiction Award.

For Showtime Jean directed and co-wrote HOMECOMING, starring Anne Bancroft and Bonnie Bedelia, garnering a WGA nomination for Best Longform Adaptation and winning the Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival.

His first independent feature was the darkly comedic EARLY BIRD SPECIAL, starring Ray Walston and Anita Gillette, followed by the family comedy FINN ON THE FLY, winner of Best Feature Film at the Sprockets Toronto Film Festival. Jean’s latest MOW’s include the romantic comedies COME DANCE AT MY WEDDING and THREE WEEKS, THREE KIDS, and most recently FINDING A FAMILY, a true-life drama starring Kim Delaney.

A duel citizen, Jean is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, The Director’s Guild of Canada, The Writer’s Guild of America and The Writer’s Guild of Canada.